ITC ruling favors U.S. washer industry

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has unanimously ruled that unlawful pricing by certain large residential washers caused injury to the U.S. clothes washer industry. This was the ITC's final ruling in the international trade investigations related to clothes washers from Korea and Mexico.

“As a result of the USITC's affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue a countervailing duty order on imports of these products from Korea and antidumping duty orders on imports of these products from Korea and Mexico,” according to the ITC’s website.

This vote follows a U.S. Department of Commerce ruling last month that foreign manufacturers were selling clothes washers in the United States at less than fair value.

Whirlpool applauded the decision, which is in response to antidumping and anti-subsidy petitions filed by the company in December 2011 on behalf of the U.S. appliance industry.

"The actions taken today by the U.S. government represent a great victory for the U.S. appliance industry, especially for our employees and consumers," commented Marc Bitzer, president, Whirlpool North America. "We invest in U.S. manufacturing because we believe in our 22,000 U.S. employees and the innovative products we produce. Today the government made the right decision. We expect this ruling will restore a level competitive playing field that enables Whirlpool and other U.S. manufacturers to continue investing in America to produce the high-quality, innovative products that consumers deserve."